For the first time ever, a dual-fuel vessel fueled by bio-methanol completed a net-zero emissions voyage. The voyage lasted 18 days and covered 5,000 nautical miles.
Cajun Sun, which is operated by Methanex’s subsidiary, Waterfront Shipping, and chartered from MOL, departed from Geismar, U.S. on January 17, and arrived in Antwerp, Belgium on February 4. To achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Cajun Sun used a blend of ISCC-certified bio-methanol, which has negative carbon intensity, and natural gas-based methanol.
The use of methanol as a marine fuel was pioneered by Waterfront Shipping in 2016 when Methanex, Waterfront Shipping, and MOL jointly built the world’s first ocean-going methanol dual-fuel tanker, Taranaki Sun. The success of this project has encouraged Methanex and MOL to continue collaborating on other innovative projects to reduce emissions from the shipping industry.
We’re proud to bring the marine industry a tangible solution to transition towards net-zero emissions through our blended methanol product using bio-methanol produced from renewable natural gas at our facility in Geismar, U.S.
As the world’s largest methanol producer, we are establishing a network of relationships with leading renewable natural gas suppliers and assessing other pathways, including carbon capture and storage and e-methanol, to provide solutions for the marine industry and other customers.
Mark Allard, Senior Vice President in charge of Low Carbon Solutions at Methanex
MOL, as a pioneering shipping company, is committed to reducing the environmental impact of the shipping sector. The use of methanol, which can be readily adopted today, is one of the very promising alternative fuels.
We are also contributing to various stages of the supply chain through the development and usage of alternative fuels in the global shipping industry.
Kazuhiro Takahashi, MOL’s Executive Officer responsible for the Bunker Business Division
The success of this project demonstrates the possibility of reducing emissions from the shipping industry through the use of innovative fuel solutions. This historic voyage serves as an example to the industry on how to achieve net-zero emissions.
